McNair/CSTEP Students Take the Lead in Together RIT | December 2025
Congratulations to Romiere Horace, Selorm Dake, Joseph Vazquez, and Joseph Bean for facilitating the McNair/CSTEP panel discussion entitled “Finding Your Way in Research Through Access, Mentorship, and Belonging” on October 24 at the fourth Annual Together RIT: A Day of Dialogue! Horace (McNair Alum 24’, CSTEP member, second-year experimental psychology master’s student) moderated the session. Dake (CSTEP member, first-year master’s student in business analytics), Vazquez (McNair Alum 25’, CSTEP member, PhD student in mechanical engineering), and Bean (McNair Scholar and CSTEP member, fourth- year computational mathematics major) collaboratively drove the discussion by sharing insights into their journey as well as evolving roles in research.
This panel provided insight into the intersection of socioeconomic diversity and research, highlighting how disparities in resources can lead to differential engagement with research or graduate education. The panelists, many of whom are first-generation students pursuing advanced degrees, were passionate about sharing their stories. They spoke about the support that helped them overcome economic adversity and excel as students, researchers, and well-rounded individuals.
Students, staff, and faculty had the opportunity to ask the panelists questions focused on how to convey the importance and goals of research more effectively, and how to further incentivize students to pursue research as an undergraduate opportunity or as a career. This led to bountiful conversations about the shared role that faculty, staff, and students at RIT play in cultivating an environment that emphasizes research discussion and the profound implications of participation. One faculty member shared afterward that the panel’s insight inspired them to begin discussing research earlier with their first-year students, helping to spark initial interest and direction.
Submitted by McNair/CSTEP